Mr. Chair, if only that were true. We know the Prime Minister himself engages in private health care by attending a clinic. That is true and completely factual.
I have a specific question for the minister and it deals specifically with the reinstatement of funding for prostate cancer research. I wrote to him back on August 5, shortly after his appointment.
On Monday a gathering was held in Ottawa, which was put together by the prostate cancer research initiative. As the minister will know, money was taken away from this, the rationale being that there was no specific funding for specific types of cancer. The minister will also know that prostate cancer has the largest mortality rate for males in Canada. Over 19,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer in the past year. One in eight men in Canada over the age of 50 will suffer from this terrible affliction.
Stan Hagen, the children and family health minister from the minister's province of British Columbia, announced today that he is suffering from prostate cancer. The minister may know this individual personally. Preston Manning and Allan Rock, his predecessor, are both prostate cancer survivors.
This is a huge problem in the country. Much can be done through proper diet and through proper testing in particular. The most common type of testing is one which is very intrusive and intimidating for many men. However, there is now a test available through blood, the PSA test. I am sure the minister is aware of it.
Will the minister, on behalf of his department, revisit the issue of funding for prostate cancer research and public education on the issue? As with all forms of cancer, early detection is the best way to attack the mortality rate. I would appreciate the minister's response on that issue.